Explore the full programme
With a mix of keynote speakers, in-depth sessions and bitesize presentations the RYA Wavelength Training Conference gives you the flexibility to build an agenda that suits your interests and priorities.
During each of the 1-hour session blocks across the day, you can choose to attend three 15-minute bitesize presentations, designed to share practical ideas and useful insights or one longer deep-dive sessions that give you more time to explore a topic, ask questions and share experiences.
Take a look through the programme below and start planning your day.
Keynote speakers
The conference includes keynote presentations from Ella Hebron, Mark Todd MBE and Tony Rendle as part of the main programme.
Leadership Under Pressure
– Ella Hebron
Drawing on her experience as the youngest skipper in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, Ella shares insights into leadership and team dynamics in challenging environments. Using examples from leading an international crew around the world, she explores the importance of clear communication, trust, accountability and teamwork when working under pressure. The talk reflects on the practical challenges of leading different personalities, making decisions in difficult situations and creating a positive team culture where people can work together effectively towards a common goal.
Dealing with an incident as it’s happening
– Mark Todd MBE
When a crisis happens on board, clear and effective communication is essential. This session explores how to manage communications during a maritime incident or emergency, including with the media, those on board, their contacts ashore, your shore team and other key stakeholders.
Emotional Wellbeing after a Traumatic Incident
– Tony Rendle
Most of us will experience a traumatic event at some point in our lives. Yet when trauma happens, many people believe they should simply 'get over it'. What if recovery isn't about getting over it at all, but learning how to move forward with it?"
In-depth sessions
These longer sessions give you more time to explore a subject in detail, hear from experienced speakers and consider how the ideas could be applied in your own role or training centre.
Skin Cancer – Spot It Early
– John Wilson
After sailing the Chenal de la Helle, a kidney stone sent John Wilson to hospital. Scans found stage 4 skin cancer. He was 41 years old.
A disaster response nurse and RYA Cruising Instructor, John has spent his life on the water. He is now taking on a new challenge: sailing around the UK while receiving cancer treatment, stopping along the way to give free skin checks and talks.
Come and hear what he wishes every sailor knew – what to look for on your own skin, the spots you can't see yourself, why people who spend time on the water are particularly at risk, and the simple habit that helped save his life the first time.
Fit to Teach? Preventing pain or injury for practical instructors
– Matthew Garfath
Teaching on the water is physical work, but the demands placed on instructors can easily be overlooked.
This practical session explores how workload, physical capacity, equipment, technique, environment and recovery can affect musculoskeletal health and teaching performance.
Drawing on 20 years of clinical experience and 10 years of watersports teaching, Matthew will explore common patterns of pain and overuse, the physical demands of different teaching environments and how small changes can reduce unnecessary load.
You'll take away practical strategies to recognise early warning signs, manage workload, build physical capacity, adapt teaching practices and know when to seek professional help.
Looking Ahead: RYA Recognised Training Centres
– RYA Training Department
What does the future hold for RYA Recognised Training Centres? Join us for an overview of upcoming changes, with insight into how recognition and inspections are likely to develop and what this may mean for your centre.
The Future of Charts in all their forms for the under 24m sector
– Speaker to be confirmed
Hear the latest updates, explore key challenges and opportunities, and join the conversation in this session designed to inform, inspire and anticipate what's next for the sector.
Safety Management – From Incident to Insight
– Robbie Bell, RYA Regional Manager – East
– Niall McLeod, RYA Head of Competition and Technical Services
Using real incidents and safety reports from across the RYA network, this session will identify common themes, highlight lessons learned and discuss how they can be applied to strengthen safety culture and operational practice.
Pulling a smile from the wreckage: Redefining success, resilience and authentic leadership
– Pip Hare
In this candid and inspiring workshop, Pip shares how creating clear, personal criteria for success enabled her to compete with confidence, purpose and authenticity, even when conventional measures suggested she could not win. Drawing on her extraordinary journey from Yachtmaster Instructor to Vendée Globe skipper, she explores the power of setting meaningful goals, staying true to your values, and finding fulfilment beyond comparison with others.
Pip also reflects on the devastating dismasting that ended her 2024 Vendée Globe campaign. Alone, hundreds of miles from land, she faced not only the practical challenge of self-rescue but also the emotional impact of seeing years of preparation come to an abrupt end. Through this experience, she reveals how resilience is not about avoiding failure, but about rebuilding, learning and finding opportunity in disappointment.
Bitesize presentations
The bitesize presentations cover a wide range of topics, from safety and inclusion to participation, technology, sustainability and the latest RYA developments.
Swim Safe: From first splash to first sail
See how Swim Safe can help grow your centre's reach, build confidence in young people and create a natural pathway into sailing. A practical case study with ideas you can take away and use.
Concussion: Recognition, Response and Recovery
Understand the latest concussion guidance and what it means for instructors, coaches and centre teams. Learn how to recognise the signs, respond appropriately and support a safe return to activity.
Clean Water Sports Alliance: Working together for cleaner waters
Discover how the Clean Water Sports Alliance is championing cleaner waterways and why this matters for centres. Hear practical examples of initiatives and practices already being adopted.
Foiling: Five years of change
Foiling has moved from the edge of the sport to the mainstream. Explore how equipment, coaching and accessibility have evolved over the last five years, and what these changes mean for centres looking to introduce or grow their foiling offer.
Scroll, shoot, share: Better social media videos
Learn simple techniques to create engaging social media videos that showcase your centre, reach new audiences and drive participation. Packed with practical tips on filming, editing and content ideas you can start using straight away.
Chief Instructor Support Network
We're launching a new Chief Instructor Network for small boat centres. Come along to learn more, share ideas, discuss challenges with fellow Chief Instructors and ask questions directly to the RYA team. Most importantly, help shape future sessions by telling us what support and topics you'd like to see included.
Symmetrical Spinnakers: Refresh, Refine, Teach
Whether you're dusting off your own knowledge or looking for new ways to teach others, this session will refresh the fundamentals of symmetrical spinnakers and share practical coaching tips. Covering setup, trim, boat handling and common learning challenges, you'll leave with ideas to help sailors build confidence and competence downwind.
Starting the conversation
How can centres better support participants with additional needs? Learn how to ask the right questions, understand individual requirements and work together to create successful and inclusive experiences.
Breathwork for stress management
Participants will leave with three simple, practical breathing tools they can use to manage stress, regain focus and find greater calm in challenging situations on or around the water. We'll practise a quick reset breath, box breathing for focus and a longer-exhale technique for settling the body and mind.
Keelboats: Preparing for the unexpected
While keelboats are often seen as a stable platform, incidents can still occur. Explore what centres need to consider around capsize, recovery, participant support and safety planning to ensure robust and effective delivery.
Action plans: Turning "Not yet" into a plan
A practical session on writing effective action plans that are realistic, achievable and motivating. Helping participants move forward with confidence when they don't yet meet the required standard.
Boats, sails and sustainability
Discover the latest approaches to recycling and repurposing boats and sails. Learn how your centre can reduce waste while supporting a more sustainable future for watersports.
Artificial Intelligence for Training Centres
Learn how AI can support your centre's day-to-day operations, helping you work smarter, save time and improve efficiency across administration and communication.
From Advanced Powerboat to Yachtmaster
Understand the pathway, gaining the right experience, and take the next step afloat.
Is your centre ready to go electric?
With the continued advancement of electric outboards, could these smooth performing and quiet engines be the next step for your training and safety fleet? A chance to hear feedback from various centres that have been trialling or already operate electric outboards within their centre.
Support Statements in action
A personal insight into the impact of Support Statements. Hear how they can support individuals, enhance inclusion and help centres provide the right support from day one.
Let's talk Periods
Join the conversation on creating a more inclusive environment for women and girls in watersports. Explore simple ways centres can support participants and staff, break down barriers and build confidence through greater understanding and open discussion.
Social Media Influencers: Worth the hype?
Hear both sides of the story as we explore how influencers can boost reach and engagement, alongside the risks, expectations and considerations centres need to be aware of.
Rock Up and Race: Getting more people racing
Discover Rock Up and Race programme and how it can help break down barriers to participation. Learn how centres and clubs can create fun, accessible racing opportunities that build confidence, encourage regular involvement and keep sailors coming back for more.
Oversight, standards and support
The Chief Instructor role is about much more than signing certificates. Explore how effective oversight, regular engagement and hands-on involvement on the water, alongside supporting and developing your instructor team, can help maintain standards and improve the quality of delivery across your centre.
Filling the empty spaces on courses
Not every session fills itself. Hear how centres are attracting participants, building demand and making the most of available spaces through simple, effective initiatives.
Staffing challenges, shared solutions
Join the conversation as centres share what's working, what's not and the creative approaches they're using to overcome staffing pressures.
The one-and-done challenge, how can we work to retain our students
Many people try watersports once but never return. Join the discussion on why this happens and how centres can create experiences that keep people coming back.
Sport or Pleasure Code transition by 2028
With the transition to the Sport or Pleasure Code approaching in 2028, now is the time to start planning ahead. Explore lessons learned so far, common gaps identified across the network, and the equipment, training and survey requirements that may affect centres delivering training on coded vessels. Gain practical insights to help your centre prepare for a smooth transition.
Safe recruitment: top tips
Discover practical tips and good practice for recruiting staff and volunteers, from the first application through to appointment and onboarding.
DBS update
A concise overview of recent DBS changes, what they mean for centres, and the actions you may need to take.
Sit-down winging
What is sit-down winging and who is it for? Discover how this developing discipline is creating new opportunities for participation and accessibility on the water.
RYA Website: Tour and feedback
A walk-through of the RYA website, highlighting key features, useful resources and opportunities to share your ideas for future developments.
How to use eBooks, Audiobooks and Bespoke Accessible eBooks
A guided tour of the features of these state-of-the-art digital publications and how they can be used to enhance your teaching.
RYA Publications direction of travel
Meet the team behind RYA publications, hear about recent projects and upcoming developments, and have your questions answered.
Meet the Training Committee
Find out more about the role of the Training Committee, the work it undertakes, and how it helps support RYA training.
Meet the teams
- Membership and certification
- RYA technical
- Regional managers
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